Today in one of my classes we discussed homosexuality. It was good because by the end we all discovered that none of us know what we think about it. I still don't know. Many of you who know me know that I love people, all of them. It is very hard for me to love some, but for me, I don't have to work at loving homosexual people. Some of them drive me nuts, not because of their homosexuality, but because of characteristics that strait people have as well. Perhaps it was the way I was raised. So naturally, I was standing in a different part of the room from the majority.
This is what I am thinking, NOT what I think. What I think is what the gospel thinks, I just don't know what it thinks about everything yet.
I believe that the Spirit changes people. I don't believe that people change people. We can do all we want, but people are who God made them to be. I am not saying that God did or didn't make homosexuals that way. I'm not one, so I don't really know how people become one, or if they even "become" one. What I am saying is that I have seen a man who was addicted to alcohol for thirty six years quit cold turkey when he accepted the Spirit into his life through Jesus Christ. I have seen the way that it changed him into a fruitful follower. I know homosexuals who are remarkably fruitful. Only good trees have good fruit. What I am saying is this: If, to be fruitful, you must be consumed,convicted, and transformed by the Spirit, then the fruitful people are consumed, have been convicted, and are being transformed by the Spirit. For this man who was an alcoholic, his vice kept him from being fruitful, and when it was defeated, he became fruitful. If a person is living a fruitful life that is dictated by the Spirit, and they are homosexual, and aren't hindered by this, I have a hard time telling them to stop it. Especially when I reflect on myself. I am fighting pride, and slowly winning because God despises it. It threatens my relationship with God on a minutely basis and even worse than this, it threatens other people's relationship with God. My vice ruins me and destroys everyone else. The homosexual's vice, if you want to call it that, is between he/she, God, and a few others. Who am I to call them wrong for something that is not as bad for the Kingdom as my own fault is? I mean, yeah, I think saw dust in their eye is disgusting and I don't in any way want to be a part of it, but what about this sexy plank in my own eye?
It seems to me that they would be changed by the Spirit if it were really that big of an issue.
I'm not saying that I'm a supporter. I'm also not saying that I'm not. I am simply saying that I want to love them as He loves me. Even in the event that homosexuality is wrong, Jesus loves them. I know that because I know that pride is wrong, and he still loves me.
I am really just exploring. Please tell me what you think. If you write something hateful or that is clearly a reiteration of what your parents told you, and that you haven't actually thought about, I'm not going to think about it either. Just a heads up. And because of my pride, I will probably judge you. Forgive me. I'm trying.
This article was written by my friend and adviser from my undergrad; it includes a few paragraphs on homosexuality, but the article itself is about the "truthiness" (to use Colbert's term) of the Bible. I would be glad to talk with you about this issue in more depth, but because it's such a divisive issue, we can move the conversation to Facebook message if you would rather. I can give you insight on scripture and history, but my theology is weak on this issue.
ReplyDeleteLet me know if you find this helpful or not. I'm a firm believer that doubt breeds humility:
http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=5
A great source of information from a 95 year old theologian...a great friend and the dearest man on the planet.. who struggled, at one time, just as you are:
ReplyDeletewww.godmademegay.com
I am much, much older than you are my fellow questioner, and I think you have said a whole lot in these sentences. How refreshing to hear this as a very "thoughtful" answer to the culture wars that are dividing the church so much right now.
ReplyDeleteI had my best friend, a homosexual, read this and we talked about all of it and I have made one very important conclusion- He knows Jesus better than I do and he is doing all that he can to change that. I refuse to accept that he is wronger than me. In the event that it is wrong, he will still have a better chance at heaven than me. Jesus made it very clear that prophesying and performing miracles and casting out demons isn't enough. He wants to know us.(Sermon on the mount.) I need to focus more on my relationship with God and less on the boundaries he made to keep us humans from thinking that we are perfect.(Irony)
ReplyDeletethis is amazing i have been strugling with this issue for some time now and didnt know how i felt and this just confirms that this is not an issue to pick sides because Jesus did not pick sides when here on earth he just loved us each the same and if such a little issue is so big in a church where we are supposed to love each other with our whole hearts as Jesus has loved us then what does that say about the church... i think the church needs a revolution.
ReplyDeleteThe revolution has begun, my friend.
ReplyDelete